Wednesday 11 February saw the annual Youth Elections take place in school. The process was overseen by representatives of our School Council who coordinated the logistics of over 3000 voting papers! We had an excellent turn out as students voted for their Youth Cabinet and UK Youth Parliament candidates.

We were delighted to have four candidates standing from KEVI for UK Youth Parliament:

• Year 9 Christina campaigning for youth mental health, climate change and equal opportunities
• Year 10 Jessie campaigning for a 4 day school week, more free clubs for young people and more buses for rural areas
• Year 10 Berechiah campaigning for non-school uniform on Fridays, food poverty and improve transport links
• Year 11 George campaigning for the voting age lowered to 17, free classroom based driving lessons in Year 11 and fair treatment for LGBTQ+ groups

We are really proud of these students who are part of a record number of 49 Youth Parliament candidates this year.

On 21 January, we launched the National Year of Reading here at KEVI with an inspiring and high-energy creative writing event, as local rap artist Kay Greyson visited school to lead a workshop with selected Year 9 and Year 12 students.

Kay began the session by performing several of her own raps, immediately engaging students and showing how powerful words, rhythm and storytelling can be when combined. She then broke down the structure of an effective rap, focusing on rhythm, rhyme, repetition and, crucially, the importance of a clear theme. For this workshop, students explored the theme of “Belonging”, linking directly to our wider focus on reading, writing and identity across the curriculum.

Students worked together to brainstorm the different places and communities where people experience a sense of belonging. These included school, friendship groups, families, sports teams, fan communities and online spaces. Just as importantly, Kay encouraged students to think about moments when belonging is absent, and how writing can be used to express feelings of isolation, exclusion or searching for connection. This thoughtful discussion helped students see how language can be used creatively and emotionally to reflect real experiences.

Inspired by the discussion and Kay’s modelling, students then set pen to paper and produced some impressive original raps. The quality of ideas, vocabulary and confidence shown by students across both year groups was excellent, and it was a pleasure to see them experimenting with language in a new and meaningful way.

We are grateful to the Hexham Book Festival for their support in making this event possible. As the first event of the National Year of Reading at KEVI, the workshop perfectly demonstrated how reading, writing and spoken language can come together to give students a voice, build confidence and strengthen their sense of belonging.

On 27 January, as part of our programme of events marking the National Year of Reading, we commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 with a powerful literacy-focused workshop and live webinar delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

A selected group of Year 9 students gathered in the Library, where Mrs Whitaker from the History department, alongside Mrs Lewis, our Librarian, welcomed students and set the context for the session. Mrs Whitaker provided a sensitive and well-judged introduction to the Holocaust, encouraging students to think beyond dates and facts and to consider the human experiences behind the history. Students were asked to reflect on the fear, uncertainty and loss faced by individuals and families, and to begin thinking about how stories and testimony help us to understand the past more deeply.

Students then joined a live webinar led by award-winning author Tom Palmer, who interviewed Ruth Barnett, a Holocaust survivor who escaped Germany to England on the Kindertransport in 1939. Students listened with real focus as Ruth spoke about leaving her parents at just four years old, the confusion and fear of her journey, and the crucial support she received from her brother. Many students were visibly moved by her story and commented on how powerful it was to hear first-hand testimony.

Throughout the webinar, students paused to record their questions, thoughts and emotional responses. This reflective writing helped them to process what they were hearing and demonstrated the importance of reading, listening and writing in subjects across the curriculum, including History, English and Religious Studies.

The session concluded with a shared reading of Part III of Five Words, describing the journey by train from Germany and arrival in England. Reading together allowed students to connect personal testimony with literature, deepening both understanding and empathy.

We were extremely proud of the maturity, sensitivity and engagement shown by our Year 9 students, and grateful for the opportunity to mark Holocaust Memorial Day through meaningful reading, reflection and discussion.

Our annual Ceilidh takes place on Friday 6 March. Tickets available from Main Reception.

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